St Andrews

Towns & Villages

St Andrews is a charming and historic town that attracts visitors from all over the world.

St Andrews is known worldwide as The Home of Golf, and also boasts Scotland's oldest university.

The St Andrews Royal and Ancient Golf Club first met here in the spiritual home of golf in 1754, though it was first played here as early as the 15th century. The Old Course, which you can play, is most famous of the town's eight championship courses, and has played host to some of the world’s finest golfers at the British Open Championship over the years.

St Andrews University, founded in 1410, dominates the centre of town. The elegant, ivy-clad buildings and delightful quadrangles and gardens have seen a procession of famous graduates such as Prince William. One of the top universities in Britain, St Andrews is often compared to Oxford and Cambridge for its defining presence and the collegiate feel it gives to the town.

The Medieval centre of St Andrews consists of a series of narrow alleys and cobbled streets with shops, restaurants and cafés. Explore the castle, the now ruined cathedral and the adjacent church of St Regulus, where you can climb the spiral staircase to the top of the 108 ft tower for magnificent views of the town and its surroundings.

St Andrews has two great beaches, one being the magnificent West Sands, where the famous opening sequence of Chariots of Fire was shot. Other attractions include the Botanic Gardens, British Golf Museum, St Andrews Aquarium and the Byre Theatre, one of only four 5-Star arts venues in Scotland.